Let's Start at the Beginning

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"I can take whatever you have to give, Georgie~" Helena was not helping herself by antagonizing the famed prankster. At least his revenge would be something to look forward to, she always did enjoy his trickery. When Helena turned away from George and found Angelina watching her with mischievous eyes, the oddly colored witch immediately stepped backwards. "Um, what's that look for Angie?"

The other female didn't say a word, merely taking Fred's arm and guiding him away from the pair. Once they were far enough, Angelina leaned back in beside Fred's ear and whispered. "Think so, huh? Maybe we should play matchmaker, eh?" She's always getting herself involved in situations like this, unable to resist. Meddling in George and Helena's lives could turn out ugly, though. She didn't think to consider that. Just because she and Fred assumed they'd made a good couple, doesn't necessarily promise that they would.

* * *

Draco's laughter ended abruptly by Aria's boldness, her willingness to confront him in front of the crowd. Rather than submit to her authority, Draco scoffed and tossed the Remrembrall into the air, "You dare to speak to me like that?"

This time another student protested against Draco and to his dismay, it was Harry Potter. "Leave her alone, Malfoy."

Unable to reply, Draco just glared angrily at the glasses wearing lad.

"Give it back," Harry commanded as he reached for Neville's trinket. "It's not yours."

Once again laughter erupted from within Draco, his frown expanding into a wild grin. "You know what, Potter? I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." Surprising everyone with unexpected grace, Draco tilted his broom upwards and hooked his foot onto the end, simply sliding away into the air with perfect balance. "How about the roof!?" He shouted, having flown high above their heads, playfully tossing the fragile ball with little concern to if it broke.
 
George just watched as Angelina decided to pull his brother away from them. What were they planning? He rose a brow, not sure what to think about the situation. Okay, he was a little naive because he was a boy, and things were oblivious to him. "Okay, this is strange," he said, looking at Helena. "Do you know what they are doing or are you just as lost as I am?"

Fred looked at the two, and just laughed. He knew his brother was oblivious, but he had a feeling that Helena knew what was happening. He looked over to Angelina, shrugging his shoulders. "Never know what could happen, maybe there can be some hidden feelings beneath it all. They are both going to deny them though," he said, glancing at the two again.

---

Aria wasn't going to back down from the fight, but Harry had stepped in to defend her. Oh, he didn't have to do that, she could easily handle herself in this situation. Malfoy didn't scare her one bit. When she watched Draco move around on his broomstick, she just simply glared at him. "Malfoy, you better not!" She shouted up at him.

This boy was getting on her nerves. She was at the point when she wanted to punch him more than anything right now, but that could possibly get her expelled for assaulting another student. At this point, she was probably going to be frowned upon as a Slytherin for looking out for some Gryffindors, but she did not care. It was just rude for him to do something like this.
 
"Eh," Helena dismissed her curiosity. "I don't know and honestly, I don't care."

Knowing Angelina it was most likely just flirting or gossip, nothing Helena was all that interested in. When she caught Fred staring at her, that was the last straw. Helena marched over to the pair and tugged on Fred's ear, yanking the taller Gryffindor down to her level. "Alright, what's going on over here?"

Angelina gave a shy smile, backing away with raised hands. "Nothing, just talking."

"Oh really?" Helena released Fred's ear and crossed her arms. "Something so private you had to walk away from George and I?"

As Angelina fumbled for an excuse, the class was released for the day. Helena walked away from the pair and grabbed her bags. "Whatever, I'm going." She walked out of the room without another word, feeling slightly betrayed that Fred was preferring Angelina's company over her's or George's. At least, that's how it seemed to her.

* * *

Useless on the ground, Aria's threat held no power over Draco. With a firm toss of his right arm, the ball went flying through the air. Everyone gasped, aside from a few Slytherin that chuckled along with Draco. Suddenly a flash of red and black went zooming past Draco, nearly knocking him from the broom. Readjusting himself before he fell off, Draco's eyes narrowed in disgust. So the noble Potter had decided to try and save the item? How pathetic.

Draco hovered in the air with mild amusement as he watched Harry struggle to properly fly his broom with one hand, the other reached out to the Remrembrall.
 
If she didn't care, she wouldn't have yanked Fred's ear.

Fred winced as she tugged on his ear, waving his hands frantically. He hated it when she did this to him, it was sure not pleasant when anyone did this to him. His mum would do it, and then Helena probably caught on from her. "We promise that we were just talking about something, don't need to get mad over it!"

George watched as Helena released his brother's ear, and then storm off. Uh oh. He immediately got up from his seat to go after her, wanting to know what was bothering her. "Helena!" He called as he walked after her, hoping that she would stop so he could catch up. "Wait up!" He was also sure that his brother and Angelina were just talking about something.

---

Aria smiled when she saw Harry go after the remembrall. She watched as he went after it, and he had soon caught it, a little wobbly, but he still caught it. He flew back down to the ground, holding the clear ball in his hand and the students cheered, running up to Harry to congratulate him for getting it before it got lost. "Good job, Harry," she told him, but was soon looking at the professor who had quickly claimed Harry.

Professor McGonagall had saw what had happened, and soon came down to take him away somewhere. Aria watched as they went, and then turned to look back at Malfoy.

"You are despicable, Malfoy," she retorted. The students that were still lingering had looked at her, and then to Malfoy.
 
Running away from George wouldn't serve any purpose. Helena knew that he would just continue to chase her down until he got his answer. She waited, allowing him a chance to catch up. When he finally did and asked her what was wrong, Helena clenched her jaw in anger. Why was she angry? Well, she didn't exactly know why. She just felt it all of a sudden. "Doesn't it bother you, George?" Her voice was sharp, not in its usual tone. "Fred comes back for his third year and suddenly he's off having secret conversations with Angie?" At least she was still using nicknames.

"You can't tell me that doesn't make you a tad bit upset?" Having them pushed aside, that's how Helena saw it. "Fred never hides things from you! I can understand not wanting to tell me something, but he is completely honest with you and yet he walked away with Angie? Open your eyes, George!" Helena almost shouted, but managed to control her voice, not wanting to scream in George's face.

Without her knowledge, the orange suddenly faded from her hair as it took on a new shade. Crimson, not the shade associated with red-heads. Actual crimson, like the Gryffindor house. Helena growled beneath her breath, hands rising to tangle in her newly transformed hair. "He's not acting normal and I want to know why!"

"Miss Rycin?"

It was Dumbledore, standing behind her with a concerned expression. "Is everything alright?"

She paled, stepping back against the wall and looked frightened.

* * *

"How dare you, Winona." Her name had never been spoken with such hatred. Draco stormed in front of her, the height he held giving him a slight advantage. "You should learn to control your tongue." He warned, stepping back and went off with his goons following behind.

The nerve of that girl, Draco though in frustration as he walked the halls.

Madam Hooch had returned, she dismissed the class and revoked ten points from Slytherin for Draco's reckless and defiant behavior. Thankfully he hadn't been around to hear that announcement. The blond lad was already headed to his third class, Defense Against the Dark Arts and happened to cross paths with Harry and McGonagall along the way.

A smirk fell onto his lips as he saw Harry being escorted by the elder woman. Perhaps he'd gotten himself in trouble? That's what Draco had hoped anyway. However, he followed the pair to his next class and saw McGonagall pull out an elder Gryffindor boy named Oliver Wood. He wasn't able to overhear the entire conversation as his hearing was disrupted when Professor Quirrell allowed his class to leave, but Draco was sure he caught something about Qudditch in McGonagall's voice.
 
Ah, so that is what it was about. She was just upset that Fred was keeping secrets. Well, it wasn't unusual. When he had trick his sleeve, sometimes he wouldn't even tell George. George usually had to whine to get what he wanted, and he normally did get an answer. This time he didn't see it a big deal, but Helena did. He didn't really say anything against it. "It's nothing that serious, Helena," he told her, putting his hands up in defense, "He will probably tell me later anyway."

He wanted to assure her that everything was okay, and then he noticed the drastic change of hair color. He was going to open his mouth to say something, but he heard a familiar voice behind them. With wide eyes, he looked at Dumbledore. "Oh, hello Headmaster," he greeted, raising his hand to rub the back of his neck nervously. It was so strange to see him wandering the halls sometimes.

---

Aria's breath hitched in her throat as he stood towering over her, and hearing her name come from his lips like that made her blood boil. Oh how she just wanted to throw a punch, but she decided against it. She allowed him to threaten her, and then she watched as he walked away from her. For a brief moment she looked around, seeing the other Slytherin students back away from her, snickering at her.

She bit her bottom lip, and she turned away from everyone, just walking a different direction. Even she knew it was her fault, but she felt humiliated by the way he spoke to her. She headed into a hallway, and ran into her brother after he got out of Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Oi, what is wrong?" he asked, moving away from his friends, seeing how distraught she looked.

He just sighed, pulling her into a hug. "Cheer up, sis, things will get better," he told her as she hugged him.
 
Dumbledore approached the pair cautiously, his eyes never once wavering from Helena. "Miss Rycin, may I speak with you in private?" Although frightened to be in the headmaster's presence, Helena nodded and walked over to him. George was asked to stay where he stood, preventing him from overhearing their discussion. "Miss Rycin, have you ever heard of a Metamorphmagus?"

The word sounded foreign, something she's never heard spoken before. "No, I haven't, sir."

Dumbledore smiled, dropping a hand onto her shoulder and tried to sooth her. "Never mind, then. Try to control your emotions. I know for a young lady it's difficult, but you have to be careful. You're developing traits prematurely and I don't want to see you inflicting damage upon yourself in the process."

He wasn't making sense. "What's happening to me?"

Dumbledore wouldn't answer. He just stroked her hair and instantly it returned to her nature shade at his touch. "You'll understand when the time is right, Miss Rycin. Now," he stepped away with a smile. "Go along to your classes."

Helena watched and waited until he walked away, then joined George again. Surprisingly, all her prior anger and discomfort was gone entirely. She looked to George in mild confusion. "Um...what was I upset about again?"

* * *

"Seeker?" Harry was at a loss for the conversation between Oliver and McGonagall, although the elder boy glanced at him curiously. As the classroom began to fill with the next session, including Draco and Aria as students, McGonagall had Oliver plan a training session for Harry tomorrow. She released Harry's shoulder and instructed him to meet the elder boy tomorrow at noon for a special assignment.

Obeying her orders, Harry waited until both left him in the hallway. Students gently walked their way past him, entering the classroom and taking their seats. Harry turned around, finding a distressed looking Aria in the back. Hurrying inside, Harry came up to her side and tenderly brought a hand to her shoulder. "Are you alright?" In the background he felt eyes burning into his back, no doubt from the angry blond seated just a few rows above.
 
George watched as they stepped aside from him, and this made him stand there awkwardly. What did he do with himself? He just rocked back and forth where he stood until they finished talking with each other. When Helena walked back to ask what she was upset about, he noticed that her hair was back to black. Well, that certainly was interesting.

"You were upset about Fred keeping secrets, but I don't think that matters now," he told her, and shrugged his shoulders. "What I really want to know is what you and Dumbledore were talking about." He was curious because he didn't want to be put in the dark. Hopefully she would tell them because she was really avid about not keeping secrets.

---

Her brother just gave her a smile before he left, feeling bad for his sister that she basically had to do things by herself. He wasn't her babysitter, and he couldn't watch after her every second of the day as much as their parents wanted him to. They probably understood though, since he had harder classes to worry about.

When Aria sat in the class, she looked up at Harry. "Oh, yes, I am fine," she said softly, giving him a slight smile and then laughed a little. "You know, I seriously think that I was sorted into the wrong house. I don't even understand why I am even a Slytherin, but the hat said I belonged in the house for some reason."
 
"He mentioned something about a Metamorphmagus," Helena fumbled with the word on her tongue. "It sounds like some kind of genetic disorder or something. He wouldn't tell me anything else, though." Dumbledore had successfully achieved a new state of confusion in Helena's mind at his sparse conversation. The baffled witch just shrugged and walked off, waiting for George to follow. "He...got rid of my anger, strangely enough." Helena no longer felt the tense frustration from earlier. "I don't know how he did that, either."

Suddenly slowing herself to a complete halt, Helena looked to George for answers. "Do you think I'm going mad?"

* * *

Harry smiled, following Aria, "Maybe you're evidence that not all Slytherins are cruel and heartless purists?"

Ron nodded in agreement, "Like Malfoy."

"Yeah," Harry frowned,slowly turning to see Draco's furrowed brows and narrowed eyes from the background. "I still don't know why he has to be such a jerk to us."

Professor Quriell clapped his hands, drawing all eyes to himself. "Alright, shall we begin?"
 
George followed next to her, listening to what she was explaining to him. That word didn't exactly ring a bell to him because it was rare that he heard that word. His parents probably knew what it was because they were probably keeping it from her for such a long time. Then there is only one solution to this. "We should go to the library to see if we can find something about it," he told her, "I am sure there would be more information there."

"And I don't think you are going mad," he told her, "You are figuring out something that is happening to you, that's all."

---

Aria gave the two a smile, glad that they were actually her friends. At this rate, she wasn't going to make friends with any of the Slytherin students since she did back talk Malfoy quite a bit. Perhaps Pansy would still be her "friend," but she highly doubted that was going to happen. When the professor began his lesson, she started to take down notes about what he was saying.

She was already excited for classes to be over for the day, and this seemed to be the last of the classes to take for the day, as tomorrow was a new schedule with different classes to take.
 
Helena nodded, accepting that looking in the library might be a wise decision. However, she didn't want to risk skipping their final class of the first day. "I'll search around there after classes." She dreaded seeing Fred and Angelina, so after parting ways with George, Helena hurried off to class. Avoiding contact with the twins and Angelina until dinner. Helena finally arrived in the Great Hall, seated at the Gryffindor table and was listening to Harry talk about some exciting news.

"I'm the Qudditch team's new Seeker!" He announced happily, a wide set breaking across his face.

Ron gasped, his jaw falling slack. "You must be the youngest person ever to play!"

Helena smiled, gently patting Harry's shoulder and shared Ron's enthusiasm. "You'll do great, Harry."

* * *

A dark cloud of anger floated above the head of one particular Slytherin, named Draco. While others were eagerly eating their dinner and munching on dessert, Draco refrained from consuming anything aside from a large goblet of juice. "Draco?" It was Crabbe, the gentler of the twin brutes. "What's wrong?"

Not gifted with the restraint to keep himself from speaking, Goyle snickered in teasing. "Bet it's about Aria..."

"Shut up, you twit!" Draco snapped, eyes narrowed and hands shaking as he balled them into fists.
 
The twins were sitting next to each other at dinner, listening to Harry beam about being the new Seeker. The both of them were very excited that he was on the team, and it was really rare for a first year to be on the team. "Congrats, Harry!" The both of them exclaimed, giving him wide smiles. "You are one of us now."

George looked up at Helena, giving her a small smile. "So, did you go to the library?" He asked her, and then took a bite of his food that was on his plate. If she did, then he would love to hear the things she learned if she did go.

"What's this about going to the library?" Fred asked, looking at the two curiously.

---

Aria just ate her food, seeming to just keep to herself as she sat at the Slytherin table. No one really wanted to talk to her, but she didn't mind it at all. That's why she only had one friend, and that one friend was separated from her. Now she was basically alone. What she didn't like was that people were talking behind her back.

She looked up at Draco for a brief moment since she wasn't really sitting too far from him, noticing that he wasn't really eating. "You may be upset, or whatever your mood is right now, but it is best for you to eat something," she piped up, shrugging her shoulders as she looked back down at her food to start eating again.
 
"George thinks I should research something Dumbledore said earlier today," Helena answered simply, not going into great detail. As the dinner progressed, Helena kept drifting into silence. She wasn't participating in the conversations circling the table. As for Harry, well, he was enjoying the chatter of his fellow Gryffindors. This included Ron, even though the red-head seemed slightly distracted by a bushy-haired brunette girl seated beside him.

"Are you alright?" Angelina questioned, looking to Helena in concern.

The addressed girl just smiled, weakly and forced, "Yeah. I'm fine."

* * *

"Why do you care?"

Draco was confused by her apparent concern. When she suggested that he eat something, idly he reached for an apple and chewed it slowly. He wasn't really hungry, his stomach in knots whenever Aria was around. She made him sick, nauseous even. "I saw you getting cozy with Potter in Dark Arts," Draco accused, almost offended.
 
George noticed how quiet Helena was being during dinner, and he frowned. He thought that she was going to be okay, but it was obvious that she wasn't. She was probably still mad about Fred and Angelina when she shouldn't have been. Well, he wasn't going to say anything about that situation. All he said was, "You don't look okay, Helena."

Fred just scratched the back of his neck, feeling uneasy. "If it's about earlier, we are sorry about that by the way." He remembered that George told him that she was upset about him talking to Angelina. He didn't mean for it to offend her.

---

When Aria heard him say something about her being cozy with Harry. This made her look back up at him with slight disbelief. He was worried about that? "He's my friend, Malfoy," she told him. It was almost laughable that he was being concerned over that. Then she smirked a little. "Are you jealous, Malfoy? You seem a little mad that I am giving him attention and not you."

This was just easy entertainment.
 
Helena flashed the twins a smile, "I'm fine." She wasn't, but they lie wouldn't be discovered for now. When dinner was finally over, Helena excused herself from the table and went to the Gryffindor common room. She sat by the fireplace, laying along the couch with a pillow placed on top of her face. A hand resting on her stomach and the other left to hang off the couch. Helena knew something was happening to her, but couldn't figure out what.

Without having to worry about Helena overhearing, Angelina spoke to the twins in confidence. "You two have grown up with her right?" She already knew the answer. "What do you know about her family? Her real family."

* * *

"Am not!" Draco protested, firmly denying such a claim. "I'm merely angered that you'd give any attention at all to that disgrace to the Wizarding world."

Nothing bothered Draco more than being overshadowed and let's be honest here, Harry has a fairly massive shadow. Draco stabbed at his apple, slicing it in halves with just his work and chewing on the pieces angrily. "Why do you waste your time with him anyway?" The boy questioned, scoffing at her liking of Harry. "He's nothing special, y'know?"

Oh yes, he was jealous, no denying it now.
 
The twins looked at each other for a brief moment when Helena excused herself from the table. Certainly something was bothering her. George wanted to go ask what was wrong, but he knew to give her space for awhile before going to talk to her. Maybe they would talk tomorrow, that seemed to be the better thing to do right at the moment. When Angelina spoke, the twins looked at her.

"We don't know anything about her parents," Fred responded.

"We don't know anything about any of her family," George added on.

---

Aria just watched as he sliced the apple, letting a small smirk curl to her lips as he complained. The jealously was written all over his face, and heard through his words. She wanted to laugh, but she held it in. He was seriously mad. It was almost satisfying.

"Because, Malfoy, he is actually kind," she told him. "He doesn't have to act a fool to get people to like him. Unlike you, you have to be a prick towards everyone to make yourself seem superior. You make my blood boil, Malfoy, and I really do want to punch that smirk off your face whenever you have one."

She placed her fork down on her plate, and stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to go back to the common room, and possibly go to bed."
 
Angelina deadpanned, "Some friends you are!"

She couldn't believe the lack of information the brothers knew about someone that lived in their own house! Angelina sighed in disbelief, finishing the last of her turkey and sipping the Pumpkin juice quickly. "You should go and talk to her, boys." Even if Helena wouldn't admit it, Angelina knows that she hates to be alone when emotional. The brothers were Helena's best friends and most trusted.

* * *

Aria was followed, Draco deciding to join her in the Slytherin room. It wasn't like he required an invitation, the perks of being in the same house. "You seem to think so highly of yourself as well, Winona~" Draco taunted, walking himself past her and stopped at the Slytherin entrance. "Tell me, why do you continue to aggravate me? Could it possibly be that you fancy me?"

Draco didn't believe his own words, but was enjoying teasing Aria. The blond raised a hand to her hair, twirling a lock around his finger. "You're so transparent, Winona."
 
The twins stared at her in disbelief.

Well, that was uncalled for.

"Okay, we're going," they announced, standing up from the table and headed to the Gryffindor common room. When they got there, they looked around to see if they would find Helena. When they did, they went over to her and both hovered above her, looking down at her. They had hoped talking to her would help her a little bit. They can get to the bottom of things.

"Okay, what's wrong?" Fred questioned, his hands on his hips.

"Something is bothering you," George chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest.

---

Aria just looked at him when he stopped her from going in. Now what was his deal? Now he wouldn't leave her alone? She would think that he would just go back to being mad at her, but it was different. They were taunting each other at this point. She stared at him when he twirled a piece of her hair around his finger.

"Really, Malfoy?" she questioned, just watching him. Her heart was beating pretty fast at this point, while her stomach did mild flips. It was a feeling that she never really experienced before, so she wasn't expecting it really. "Bug off," she told him, covering the strange feelings that was coming to her.
 
Peeking from the side of her pillow, Helena saw the twins and inwardly smirked at their expressions. They almost looked cute, aside from the fact that they were questioning her. "Oh, come on, you two!" She groaned loudly, rolling onto her stomach and perched her elbows so she could support her head in both hands. "I'm just a little stressed out, nothing to worry about." Playfully swinging her legs back and fourth in the air, Helena flashed a smile at the twins. "Wanna sneak out?"

Helena's favorite place at Hogwarts is the Black Lake and the twins know all the secret passages to get outside.

* * *

Aria's command was not convincing. She was holding back, Draco could tell. He recognized the sudden shift in her attitude. Apparently pleased with himself, Draco curved his lips into a smirk and leaned closely beside her ear. "You'll fall for me soon enough, Winona and when you do, I'll make sure you regret ever meeting me." It was a promise. She had embarrassed, annoyed, angered and frustrated him beyond comprehension...she'd pay for it one day.

Stepping away from the door, "After you." He gestured to the door in a slight bow.
 
The twins looked at each other, and then looked down at her again. Well, at least she didn't seem that mad anymore. Perhaps she was just stressed about a lot things, but they still thought that she was mad at someone. However, when she suggested sneaking out, they were all ears. They nodded eagerly, grinning down at her.

"Let's go change out of our robes and we can meet back down here," Fred said. He didn't feel like being in his uniform when they were sneaking out. With that, the twins went up to their room to change out of the robes they were wearing into some comfortable jeans and a t-shirt with a comfortable pullover sweater. They went back downstairs, being quiet as they did, and they just waited for Helena before they had their first sneak out of the year.

---

Aria listened to his words, and then she shook her head. "Then I have to make sure I don't fall for you," she declared, and then headed into the common room, "Even if I wasn't in the first place." She rolled her eyes, heading to the stairs to go up to her dorm. "Good night, Malfoy, and I hope you don't have any pleasant dreams."

Without looking back at him, she headed into her dorm and headed to her bed. She wasn't tired, but she wanted to lock herself in her room. At least she was safe from Malfoy when she was in here since there were no boys allowed in the girl's dormitory. At least she can have a moment of peace for a little while.
 
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